Solskjaer’s United looking for response after rare defeat

March 16, 2019

WOLVERHAMPTON, United Kingdom (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will look for Manchester United to respond to the first domestic defeat of his reign when they face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup quarter-finals today (Sunday 3.55am Brunei time) as the Norwegian moves closer to landing the job on a permanent basis.

United’s shock Champions League victory at Paris Saint-Germain last week carried them through to the last eight and all but confirmed Solskjaer will soon be named Jose Mourinho’s successor on a long-term basis.

Since that famous evening in France, United have tasted defeat for the first time in England on the interim manager’s watch, beaten 2-0 in last weekend’s league visit to Arsenal.

But although that setback dented United’s bid for a top-four finish, it did little damage to Solskjaer’s standing, especially given the nightmare injury list he has endured recently.

Some reports have suggested Solskjaer could be confirmed as manager during the forthcoming international break, which follows the FA Cup tie against Wolves.

United officials have offered no guidance on whether the appointment is imminent, but it emerged last week that Solskjaer does not, as was commonly thought, have a contract with his former club Molde.

He revealed that, with regulations forbidding a manager from having concurrent contracts with more than one club, he tore up his deal with the Norwegian side to join United last December.